Page 26 of The Ruthless Laird's Virgin
Nodding slowly, Callum reached for his ale again and took a large sip. “He kent evyerthing that there was to ken about me father and this clan. In the end, he denied ever kennin; anythin’at all, and the clan forgave him, but I always had me suspicions about his involvement.”
Eleanor’s frown deepened. “But why is he still a member of the council if ye suspected him of being a part of the plan?”
The corner of Callum’s mouth lifted into a half smile, yet there was certainty lacking in his eyes. “Keep yer friends close, and yer enemies even closer, lass. I have men treailin’ Hamish inside and outside of this castle. He does nae sneeze without company.”
Her heart began to race again as she thought of Andrew. “But if he worked so close with Andrew, could he nae have been involved in me brother’s disappearance?”
Callum’s jaw stiffened again as his fingers curled tighter around his mug. “Aye, lass, it has crossed me mind as well. If Andrew was goin’ to expose anyone, then it would have been better to get rid of him.” His head snapped up almost as soon as he said the words.
Feeling her hands begin to tremble, Eleanor swallowed hard and tried to keep her composure.
Could he truly be dead?
Swearing under his breath, Callum placed the mug beside his chair with a loud thud before facing her again. “I am sorry, lass, I didnae mean to take away yer hope.”
She answered softly when she spoke again, her voice barely audible above a whisper. “I still think we can find him, I daenae think he is dead.”
Callum nodded slowly again, meeting her gaze with a tender look in his eyes. “Aye, lass, hold onto yer hope. We shall do everythin’ in our power to find out what has happened to him.”
What has happened to him, and nae where he is.
The thought struck Eleanor harder than she cared to admit.
She lowered her gaze to her folded hands, afraid that if she looked at Callum for too long, he might see the fear she was trying so desperately to hide. The room felt smaller suddenly, warmer, and far too intimate when he looked at her so intently.
The firelight cast golden shadows across the study, softening the hard lines of Callum's face. Outside, the wind rattled against the narrow windows, but within the room, there was only the quiet crackling of the hearth and the steady rhythm of their breathing.
For several moments, neither of them spoke until Callum shifted forward in his seat. “Lass.” The gentleness in his voice coaxed her to look up. His gaze and attention were fixed entirely on her. Not Hamish, the clan, or even Andrew, but on her. “I shouldnae have said that.” His voice was low. "Eleanor..." The sound of her name on his lips made her stomach flutter.
Wanting to distract herself, she looked down again. “I would rather hear the truth than pretty lies,” she said softly. “Even if those lies break me heart.” She clenched her fingers in her lap, plucking at the tops as if she were removing gloves.
“Aye,” She whispered back.
“But that doesnae mean I wish to lose hope,” His voice was gentler than she had ever heard it before. “Nor should ye.
Their gazes met once again and lingered long enough for Eleanor to feel the heat flooding her cheeks. Where had the sudden change in his behavior come from? She felt her breath catching in her throat as she became acutely aware of the silence between them and the distance separating their chairs. Her pulse quickened when she realized just how easily that distance could be closed.
They had come to the study to discuss the matter with Hamish, but suddenly, and out of the blue, the atmosphere between them had changed.
Callum seemed to notice as his gaze drifted briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes. The movement had been fleeting and barely noticeable, yet Eleanor had felt it all the same.
Saint preserve us, but I daenae ken what he is thinkin’.
She reached for the edge of her cloak, clutching the fabric tightly.
Callum exhaled slowly. “It is gettin’ late, we shouldnae be in here for too long.”
A nervous laugh escaped her. “And yet, here we are, naethin’ in life is happenin’ as it should.”
Callum’s lips twitched into something that could have been mistaken for a smile. “Aye, it isnae.”
For the first time all evening, the weight pressing upon her chest eased as she looked at him, and to her great surprise, she found herself smiling back.
The sight seemed to affect Callum more than she expected. His expression grew strangely intent. As though he had forgotten what they had been discussing altogether.
The realization sent another rush of warmth through her.
“Eleanor,” he whispered her name again, but it sounded different this time, slower and rougher than before.
